I remember the feeling when I finally finished school and the one thing I felt most free from was homework. There were some teachers who piled on hours of homework, and others who gave just a little. Generally, I found that the less homework a kid has, the better he or she will learn. It's just like now as an adult with work. No one wants to take work home with them, but it happens ... a lot in most cases. On those days you leave work only to have to work through the night at home, you feel drained. Like your mind has no time to recoup. As if all you ever think about is work.
It's the same for kids with homework. France is keen to this and may ban homework. I think this is a great idea.
Parents don't need to be working on their kids' homework after a long day of their own work. Which they probably have to still work on. Once a parent is involved, the kid checks out. Not benefiting or learning anything. Homework, as we know it, should be banned. It needs a major overhaul. I do think there should be some reading required at home, studying, and a few long-term projects, but that everyday grind work that kids already do in school should happen in school.
Homework shouldn't take up a lot of time, especially when kids have many classes. Which is why I think a slightly longer day -- with a class set aside just for 'homework' -- makes sense. A study hall where kids actually have to study. It may have to be more controlled in that the teacher in charge of the 'homework hall' should know what each student needs to be working on, but sometimes a structure like that is good for kids. Maybe each class is extended slightly to accommodate the 'homework' portion of the teaching. This way the students are in the class with the teacher assigning the work, they can ask questions if they arise, and the work is done, completed correctly, making the learning a more positive experience -- a more lasting experience.
French President Francois Hollande is working on education reform and his reasoning behind banning homework is to "equalize the playing field" for the kids who don't have a lot of family help at home. Today.com's series on school issues found that kids who do more homework perform worse in school.
If we stop and think of it in an adult world -- how we take work home with us, often working all through the night -- sometimes that just causes burnout. Or people to hate their jobs. Once a child loses interest in school, how can we expect them to get good grades? And just like that adult who won't stop complaining about all the work he or she has to do at home, far too many kids have that with homework today. The assignments are loaded on and kids have hours worth of work to do at home leaving little time for socialization, hobbies, sports, a part-time job, family time, or even alone time. All of which are important for growth.
Ban homework as it is now. Our kids' education needs reform and this could be one step in a better direction.
What do you think of a homework ban or reform? Should school time last longer to accommodate this extra work?
Image via slightlyeverything/Flickr
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Comments 27
Couldn't agree more!
Is this a new thing, parents doing their kids' homework for them? My parents were never involved in my homework, beyond the occasional supply run if a posterboard was needed.
@Ashleigh - i think saying that the parents do it may be a stretch, but for many kids, there are portions of their homework that the parent has to do / sign / review. this is not unusual, i wouldn't think, for smaller kids. however, it feels much like i have homework too - because in addition to my kiddo's homework packet (that they get daily, btw), they have a reading journal that i have to sign off on as well. and the blogger is right, once a kid has started asking mom or dad for help, they tend to come to the parents for more backup. and then, in an effort to maybe get the kid fed, bathed and ready for bed, we start giving them answers instead of working with them to solve it on their own - in the idea of 'saving time'. that's how it is for my kids anyway, and many other's from what i've read. (not bashing, just explaining..)
and i agree. i would much rather that my kid went to school for a full 7 or even 8 hours and get in everything they need to know, and leave the after school time for being kids.
If you are doing your kid's homework for them, then you are the reason your child isn't learning what they should be. Is it really that bad to spend 20 minutes reading with your child at night? Or to have them work on homework while you make dinner?
Last year it was super frustrating, because my daughter had a horrible time focusing on her work, and some days, yes, it seemed like it would never end, but I never gave up and neither did she and this year she is excited to do her homework because as soon as it is finished, she knows the rest of the night is hers. That, and I never turned it into a negative thing like I see so many parents do today. Why would a child WANT to do their homework when their parents are complaining and talking about how stupid it is all the time? A little bit of encouragement, and patience, even when you don't feel it yourself, can go a long way.
I'm all for it. Aside from reading at home, I don't see the point in homework for elementary age children. My son is in 1st grade and has 20-30 minutes of homework every night. We have to help him read the directions, call-out spelling words, help him get on the computer to do the reading program. I try to stay out of it as much as possible, but at this age he cannot be all on his own. He's been in school for 7.5 hours. What he needs after school is time to unwind, play, and hang-out with the family.
Oh, I forgot all the initialing and signing I have to do. I feel like he is held accountable if I forget to sign/initial something. Plus, trying to keep younger kids occupied while you help one with all this homework is frustrating. I don't get to spend the quality time with any of them in the afternoon that I'd like to. It's just one more pressure in an already overbooked day.